You know, I'm surprised it took nearly two rounds before somebody inside the ropes tried to throttle one of the thousands of people outside them. The 108th U.S. Open, played at Torrey Pines, features possibly the Best Threesome Ever: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott.
While the fans no doubt love the grouping, logistically, it's a nightmare for tournament officials, law enforcement types and, apparently, caddies.
After hearing a fan verbally abuse him and his golfer, Scott, caddie Tony Navarro charged to the ropes that keep fans off the course and chest-butted a fan. The man had been yelling at Navarro to come over to the ropes, and Navarro was heard telling the fan to meet him at the bottom of the hill of the elevated tee box.A couple of thoughts: first, I hope the fan gets the death sentence, and it's televised prior to every major championship to serve as a reminder for would-be tough guys. Second, caddies, in general, are nuts. They have no qualms about kicking your ass. Living in the backseat of a car as part of your job toughens you up like that.
After chest-butting the fan, Navarro dropped his golf bag and he and the fan rolled to the ground. Mickelson's caddie, Jim Mackay, went through the ropes to help Navarro and could be heard yelling, "Where are the cops?"
One of the volunteer marshals who witnessed the incident (but whose 80-year-old hip prevented him from intervening), offered some details:
"I don't know if the guy was high or drunk, but he kept yelling and going at Scott's caddie," Schuch said. "The caddie went after him at the bottom there, and then the police came in and broke it up."Navarro's well respected on tour and was on Greg Norman's bag before going to work for Scott. He's been a part of plenty of major championships, so it's not like he was overwhelmed by the circumstances, but maybe the USGA should reconsider such groupings in the future. Or just find a way to keep the a-holes off the course.
Either way, too bad the heckler wasn't targeting Stevie Williams. I woulda loved to see how that ended up.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-14-2008 @ 11:14AM
htcorner23 said...
I'll hold off on the death penalty, as called for by the author of the article, but I do think that everyone who yells "You da man" or "Get in the hole" should be tazered.
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6-14-2008 @ 12:13PM
salflyer said...
I agree with what the previous poster wrote and with the actions of Mr Navarro. Some fans are rude and ignorant, just yesterday, the female fans were yelling "get in the hole". (Maybe they think that make's em cool). However, Mr Navarro made a mistake, he became the "agressor". Sorry to think or say this, but my money is on the fan to sue and be bought off in the form of some "off the record" financial payment from Navarro or the USGA. Once that happens, every nut case will attend golf events and call out the caddies, players and officials hoping for an opportunity to sue and get rich quick for acting a fool...
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6-14-2008 @ 9:20PM
J FRANK MOORE said...
ANY OF YOU THAT AGREE WITH THE FAN HAVE GOT YOUR HEAD LODGED BETWEEN YOUR LEGS AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT GOLF OR COURTESY.
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6-14-2008 @ 10:59PM
chuck kennedy said...
none of this would have happened at any of my fantastic courses in wisconsin... because in the woods of wisconsin, i am the law!!
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6-15-2008 @ 12:08AM
Matt said...
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.....You never strike a person that is calling you names....you call the police, security, whatever, but once you lay your hands on them Cha-Ching.............you lose....and I hope it costs him a lot
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6-15-2008 @ 12:36AM
George B Vieto said...
The fans should realize that this is the PGA and not the WWE. Golfers are Playboy Bunnies. Look but don't touch or insult them.
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6-15-2008 @ 12:59AM
Charles said...
Hey Matt, stick and stones, what are you seven. Yes, words will never hurt you, but have someone bounce a two iron off your dome, and I guarentee you will shut your mouth.
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6-15-2008 @ 1:03AM
Charles said...
Someone in the game of golf has got to be paying these "get in the hole" guys, and it will take one of the big names to complain, and the media to put the word out, and each outcry should come with a fine and ejection from the course.
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6-15-2008 @ 1:49AM
Matt said...
Who really cares.........its golf...the caddies should beat everyone up for being stupid enough to attend...people are cheering a black guy with white balls getting it in a hole...... That is impressive.......
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6-15-2008 @ 2:04AM
Matt said...
Any sport that you can smoke while playing...isn't really a sport.....Geez even NASCAR drivers don't smoke while "playing" and NASCAR is as much a sport as "poker" must be I saw it on ESPN and everything on ESPN is a sport..from the dog jumping into water to the guys with chain saws cutting stumps
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6-15-2008 @ 9:38AM
Howard said...
I know spectators pay to be there, but they are still there as guest. You conduct yourselves properly or leave. I really don't condon confrontation such as this. But if this what it took to get it stopped so be it. Fans definely are needed for the sport. But apparently there needs to be some sort of policing when it gets out of control.
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6-15-2008 @ 9:52AM
Patsy said...
Mr Navarro was NOT the agressor and if so called security isn't going to handle it someone needs to. I hope those two lug heads do attempt to sue. I'd love to see a judge throw them in the clink for being so stupid. They should be glad I wasn't near them and heard that crap, I would give them some lessons on manners I guarantee they hadn't had before. JERKS!
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6-15-2008 @ 10:39AM
Patsy said...
With the number of people attending some of these tournaments, add to that the amount of alcohol consumed and there definitely needs to be a visible security presence. Not just some 80 year old volunteer who is there mainly to hold his hands straight up in the air for about 20 seconds everytime someone is getting ready to tee off.
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6-15-2008 @ 4:34PM
golfyob said...
First of all I AM a caddie, I've caddied on every tour but the seniors and i agree with the offer
living in your car and travelling 15 hours between
tournaments ..PRAYING you make a cut DOES make you
a little different from drunk grandpa and sleeve tatooed son and father of son of arrested dad and grandpa... ANY drunk wouldnt stand ten seconds with a pissed off sober caddie!!!trust me!!!!
we walk 6 miles a day carrying 50 pounds an our back
and your 60 and f-ing with me???? PLEASE
ALL humans can only take soo much
and I'm sure theres more to this story...
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6-15-2008 @ 11:18PM
angeandre4 said...
The idiot that made the racist statement--GO AWAY!!!!
Golf never had this much excitement until Tiger Woods game on board--like it or not. The crowds are huge compared to years ago. There have been problems with yellers during any golfers play and this is rude. Golf is not just a bunch of men walking around with a stick hitting a ball. This is a game of concentration, math and science. Some of you who are writing in sound like you have no education, respect. This is not an easy game that anyone can do or you would be out there playing along side these professionals. Maybe banning alcohol during these games is the way, at the least start banning them they do not come for the sport.
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6-16-2008 @ 8:21AM
Patsy said...
angeandre4, I've found the best way to deal with neanderthal troll idiots, is to just ignore them. I agree with you about Tiger. He brings so much excitement to the game. I've watched golf for roughly 40 years and it isn't the same when he isn't playing. It just isn't. I'll pull for history in the making every time he plays. I feel for everyone who has to work today and will miss the playoff.
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